Where does the expert say you can get the best cappuccino at Roeterseiland?
Coffee lovers at the UvA are spoilt for choice. There are plenty of places across the Roeterseiland Campus where you can grab a cup of coffee. But where can you actually find the tastiest cappuccino? Coffee expert Joost Leopold puts them to the test.
Anyone who regularly spends long days at university knows that a coffee break is no unnecessary luxury. But with the huge range of options available on the Roeterseiland Campus, the question is where to go for the best cappuccino. To find out, Folia enlisted the help of Joost Leopold, founder and owner of De Koffieschool training institute in Utrecht.
The fact that making a truly good cappuccino is no easy feat becomes clear as soon as Leopold explains what he looks for when tasting one. “The foam should be smooth and glossy, without too many bubbles. And the milk underneath should be between 55 and 65 degrees.” Another important point, according to the expert, is that both brown and white should be visible on top. “White in the middle, with brown around it. That is the ‘kippah’ after which the cappuccino is named.” As for the proportions: one third foam, one third milk and one third espresso. “And, of course, the flavours of the coffee and milk should be in harmony with each other.”
Crea - €3.50
Score: ★★★☆☆
The coffee: “What stands out is the quality of the milk. It’s very creamy, with a slightly salty taste. Very nice. Unfortunately, the flavour of the coffee gets a little lost. There is little harmony between the two. The temperature is also too low, at 52 degrees.”
Tip: “The cappuccinos aren’t made consistently. I’ve seen cappuccinos coming through here that would definitely get a failing grade from me.”
Top: “That is clearly the quality of the milk, which is very good.”
Lebkov & Sons - €4.00
Score: ★★★★★
The coffee: “This one is really good. The milk is lovely and smooth, and you can really taste the coffee through it very well. Very pleasant and not artificial at all. Everything is in balance, this is how it should be.”
Tip: “I’m missing a spoon, and it took an incredibly long time.”
Top: “The foam is beautiful, that’s definitely the highlight.”
Coffee Star - €3.65
Score: ★★½☆☆
The coffee: “This one is okay, but not exciting enough. The coffee is roasted too lightly, so there isn’t much chocolate coming through in the flavour. As a result, the milk dominates too much.”
Tip: “The foam is very airy, so it isn’t firm enough.”
Top: “They’ve chosen the right equipment and ingredients, so you could really make something beautiful here.”
De Krater - €3.50
Score: ★★★★☆
The coffee: “The barista works carefully and good equipment is being used. The cappuccino is therefore at the right temperature and the foam is also fine. The milk is very tasty, but does overpower the coffee a little. So the coffee could be a bit stronger.”
Tip: “Use fresher coffee, which would increase the intensity.”
Top: “The excellent quality of the milk and foam are what stand out most here.”
Coffee machine in the cafeteria - €0.92
Score: ☆☆☆☆☆
The coffee: “This is in stark contrast to the others. Calling this coffee is frankly outrageous. The milk isn’t milk, but water with powder added to it. The coffee is incredibly watery and far too hot on top of that. Absolutely unbelievable.”
Tip: “I have too many tips for this coffee to list.”
Top: “There is no top here.”
